Pelargonium plant named ‘Duerobina’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Duerobina’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; leaves with a distinct zonation pattern; freely flowering habit; semi-double bright red-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium zonale.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DUEROBINA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of ZonalGeranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Duerobina’.

The new Zonal Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new uniform Zonal Geranium plants withdark green-colored leaves and attractive flowers.

The new Zonal Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in May, 2007 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietaryselection of Pelargonium zonale identified as code number Z05-2502-4,not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Pelargonium zonale identified as code number F-20-418, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Zonal Geranium plantwas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plantfrom within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium plant by vegetativeterminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg,Germany since May, 2010 has shown that the unique features of this newZonal Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Duerobina’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Duerobina’ as a new and distinct Zonal Geraniumplant:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely basal branching habit.    -   4. Leaves with a distinct zonation pattern.    -   5. Freely flowering habit.    -   6. Semi-double bright red-colored flowers.    -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in branching habit as plants of the new ZonalGeranium are more freely branching than plants of the female parentselection. In addition, plants of the new Zonal Geranium have lightergreen-colored leaves than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of themale parent selection in branching habit as plants of the new ZonalGeranium are more freely branching than plants of the male parentselection. In addition, plants of the new Zonal Geranium and the maleparent selection differ in flower color as plants of the male parentselection have purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants ofPelargonium zonale ‘Gentred’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,134.In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany plants ofthe new Zonal Geranium differed primarily from plants of ‘Gentred’ inthe following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Zonal Geranium were more freely branching        than plants of ‘Gentred’.    -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Zonal Geranium had a more        distinct zonation pattern than leaves of plants of ‘Gentred’.    -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Zonal Geranium were lighter red        in color than flowers of plants of ‘Gentred’.    -   4. Flowers of plants of the new Zonal Geranium had more        petaloids than flowers of plants of ‘Gentred’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Zonal Geranium plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Zonal Geranium plant. The photograph comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duerobina’ grown in acontainer.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the summer in 10.5-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and underconditions which closely approximate commercial production. During theproduction of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. andlight levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched one time threeweeks after planting and were 13 weeks old when the photograph and thedescription were taken. In the detailed description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium zonale ‘Duerobina’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Pelargonium zonale identified as code number Z05-2502-4, not            patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Pelargonium            zonale identified as code number F-20-418, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   General appearance.—Upright to outwardly spreading plant            habit; uniformly rounded; densely foliated.        -   Growth and branching habit.—Moderately vigorous growth            habit; freely basal branching habit with about three basal            branches developing per plant; pinching enhances lateral            branch development.        -   Plant height to top of flower umbels.—About 27 cm.        -   Plant height to top of foliar plane.—About 21 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 20 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 6 cm. Diameter: About            6.5 mm. Internode length: About 1.3 cm. Texture: Pubescent.            Strength: Moderately strong. Color: Close to 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.        -   Length.—About 3.8 cm.        -   Width.—About 6 cm.        -   Shape.—Reniform.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Pubescent.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to 137C; venation, close to 143B. Developing and fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 143C; venation,            close to 143C.        -   Zonation pattern.—Distinct. Distance from margin: About            5 mm. Width: About 1.2 cm. Color: Close to 147A.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 5.4 cm. Diameter: About 2.6 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 143B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Semi-double flowers arranged in rounded            hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils; umbels            displayed above the foliage on moderately strong peduncles;            flowers face mostly upright to outward.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 15            flowers and flower buds per umbel with about 90 flowers per            plant.        -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions; in            outdoor nurseries and gardens in Germany flowering is            continuous from spring throughout the summer; plants begin            flowering about eight weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to            seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Umbel height.—About 4.5 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 6.8 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 4.7 cm by 4.5 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.1 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 8.5 mm.            Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 67A.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About five in a single whorl.            Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About 2.1 cm. Shape: Obovate.            Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When            opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 44B; color            becoming closer to 45D with development. When opening and            fully opened, lower surface: Close to 44C; color becoming            closer to 45D with development.        -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About eight to eleven.            Length: About 2 cm. Width: About 1.8 cm. Shape: Obovate.            Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When            opening and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 44B. When            opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 44C.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: About six arranged in a single            whorl. Length: About 1.1 cm. Width: About 3.75 mm. Shape:            Ensiform. Apex: Acuminate. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 149B.        -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 10 cm. Diameter: About            3 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 1.9 cm.            Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 182A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:            About nine. Filament length: About 6.7 mm. Filament color:            Close to 155B. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape:            Oval. Anther color: Close to 48C. Pollen amount: Moderate.            Pollen color: Close to 28A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per            flower: One. Pistil length: About 1 cm. Stigma shape:            Parted. Stigma color: Close to 45C. Style length: About            2 mm. Style color: Close to 46D. Ovary color: Close to 144A.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal    Geraniums.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been    observed to tolerate rain, wind, and temperatures ranging from about    5° C. to about 40° C. and have demonstrated good garden performance.

1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Duerobina’ asillustrated and described.